Locking assemblies for screw-type members



April 10, 1956 H. D. WOLFE 2,741,290

LOCKING ASSEMBLIES FOR SCREW-TYPE MEMBERS Filed June 27, 1952 "WM" A8INVENTOR. HARRY D. Won/ 5 A TTOR/YEX United States Patent LOCKINGASSEMBLIES FOR SCREW-TYPE MEMBERS Harry D. Wolfe, Pine Grove, Pa.

Application June 27, 1952, Serial No. 295,893

3 Claims. (Cl. 151-55) My invention relates to locking assemblies forscrewtype members. Such screw-type members include generally nuts,bolts, anchor studs, and the like.

Locking assemblies of various types have been invented for screw-typemembers, but have generally presented numerous problems in theiroperation. Thus, in some it is not possible to use a pie-formed lockingdevice. In others, auxiliary means such as cotter pins or the like arerequired to hold the locking device in place. In still others, it isnecessary to restort to springs or the like for holding the lockingmechanism in place. Moreover, in locking assemblies hitherto in use, itis frequently impossible to make a trial adjustment and then lock theassembly in place. In addition, once locked in place, it is often verydifficult intentionally to unlock the device and re move the nut orbolt-head, in assemblies hitherto known.

One object of my invention therefore is to provide a pie-formed lockingdevice which is readily secured to, and as easily removed from, ascrew-type assembly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a locking assembly which issafe and secure in operation, facile in use, reliable in performance andinexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of my invention is to provide a locking device which isso constructed as to be operable without auxiliary locking means such ascotter pins, springs or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a locking device which isso constructed as freely to make possible, trial assemblies or temporaryholdings of devices, without being encumbered by the locking means, andwhich is readily convertible to a locked nut-type assembly after asatisfactory trial adjustment is made.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists of alocking assembly for a rotatable member comprising a head-type deviceadapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis and to be drawn alongsaid axis against a base member; said head-type device comprising a baseportion adapted to be drawn against said base member, a groove disposedsubstantially about the periphery of said head-type device, and achannel intercepting said groove and disposed substantially along aplane which is coplanar with said longitudinal axis; said channelextending substantially to the base portion of said head-type device;and a pre-formed anchor member comprising a portion having aconfiguration substantially similar to the con figuration of saidperipheral groove, and a projection extending substantiallyperpendicularly from one end of said last-mentioned portion, saidprojection being of a length greater than the length of said channel;said base member comprising a receptacle portion spaced' from saidlongitudinal axis a distance equal to the distance between saidlongitudinal axis and the intersection of said channel with said baseportion, said receptacle being of a width and configurationsubstantially similar to that of said projection.

My invention also consists of a locking assembly com prising a head-typedevice having a base portion and a 2 peripheral groove; a channelintercepting said peripheral groove and extending from said groove in adirection substantially away from said base portion; an anchor memherhaving a portion adapted to be removably disposed within said groove anda projection extending from said last-mentioned portion and adapted tobe removably interlocked with said channel.

My invention also consists of parts and combinations of parts as morefully described hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred byme, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not imited to theprecise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities asherein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings in'which like reference characters indicatelike parts:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a locking assembly embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 represents a plan view of an anchor member used in a lockingassembly embodying my invention.

Figure 3 represents a front elevational view of the anchor memberillustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 represents a side elevational view of the anchor memberillustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 5 represents a plan view of a base member of a locking assemblyembodying my invention. 7

Figure 6 represents a perspective view of a head-type device mounted inposition on a base member, substantially as it would appear in one stageof the assembling of a locking assembly embodying my invention.

Figure 7 represents a perspective view of a subsequent stage in theassen bling and locking of a locking assembly embodyingmy invention.

Figure 8 represents a perspective View of a further stagev in theassembling and locking of a locking assembly embodying my invention.

Figure 9 represents a perspective view of the final stage of theassembling and locking of a locking'assembly embodying my invention.

Figure 10 represents an elevational view illustrating a nut and boltassembly locked against rotation and embodying my invention.

7 It is to be understood that my invention is applicable for intendedlocking against rotation devices which are otherwise capable of beingrotated about a longitudinal axis and simultaneously drawn against abase member by movement along said longitudinal axis. Such devicesinclude, but are not liimted to, nuts, bolts, screws, studs and thelike. In each such case, the device comprises a member which issometimes referred to herein as a headtype device. Such head-typedevices include devices such as a nut, bolt-head, screw-head, or thelike. For purposes of illustration only, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings a bolt 15 having a bolt-head 16 drawn againstabase member 17 which is secured to an intermediate member such forinstance as a plate 18 by means of a nut 19. My invention is furtherillustrated as being applicable to both the nut 19 and bolt 15 havingthe bolt-head 16 While the head-type device such as the nut 19 orbolt-head 16 constructions may be of any desired configuration, forpurpose of illustration only I have shown said devices as beinghexagonal in shape and as having a fiat base portion 29 in the case ofthe bolthead 16, and flat base portion 21 in the case of the nut] 19.Moreover, for simplicity of illustration, I have shown the bolt-head 16as having a hat top 22, and the nut'19 as having a flat outer portion 23opposed to the flat base portion 21 thereof. The bolt 15 may be threadedas at 24 Patented Apr. 10, 19 56.

and the nut 19 may be internally threaded (not shown) in a manner to bethreadedly mounted onthe bolt 15.

The base member 17 and the plate 13 have an orifice 25 formedtherethrough. along a longitudinal axis '26,

the orifice being preferably of a cylindrical form and or ferred form,the grooves 27 and '29 may be formed radially about the longitudinalaxis 26, although it is to be understood that these grooves maybe formedwith the same configuration as that of the periphery of the head-typedevice 16 or 1?, or of any other desired coin figuration about theperiphery of the headtype device, without departing from the spirit oressential attributes of my invention. The peripheral groove 27 isdisposed between the baseportion 2i) and the top portion 22 of thehead-type device 16; and the peripheral groove 29 is disposed betweenthe base portion 231 and the outer portion 23 of the nut 19. I

An intercepting groove or channel 30 is formed on the periphery 28 toextend between the groove 27 and .the base portion 29 and is preferablyformed about an axis coplanar with the longitudinal axis 26, and ispreferably of substantially the same diameter as the peripheral groove27. If desired, similar grooves 30', 30" etc. may

'be iormed in selected portions of the periphery 28, and

similarly extending from the peripheral groove 27 to the base portion2t). Thus, in apreferred form, one such groove 36, 3t), 39 etc. may beformed on' each periphcral faceof a hexagonal head-type device such asthe bolt-head 15,

, If'desired, an intercepting groovecr channel '3'1' may be disposed onthe periphery 28 to extend between. the peripheral groove 2'7 andsubstantially the top face 22 of the head-type device 15, and may if.desired be simila rly formed about an axis coplanar with thelongitudinal axis26. Also, if desired, a-plurality of grooves, such forinstance as the grooves 31, and 31", similar to the g'rooves Sl, may beformed about the periphery28; and

indeed, the groove 31 may itself be an extension of the groove 39, thegroove 31 may be an extension of the groove 36, the groove 31" may be anextension of the groove 30", and so on until all faces of the periphery28 have a groove disposed therein, both above and below the peripheralgroove 27. In a preferred form, where the grooves 39, 39', 38" aredisposed one in each face of the periphery 28, they are preferablydisposed equidistantly about said periphery.

The nut 19 may similarly have grooves or channels disposed therein, suchfor instance as the groove or channel 32 intercepting the peripheralgroove 29 and extending substantially along the periphery 33 of the nut19 between said groove 29 and the base portion 21 thereof; and similarchannels 32, 32" and the like may be provided to extend between theperipheral groove 29 and the'base'portion 21, and disposed preferablyone on each peripheral .face of the polygon, of which the nut 19 may becomposed, and one form of my invention may be disposed equidistantlyabout the periphery 33. V

In a similar manner, channels 34, 34', 34", and the like, may bedisposed on the nut 19, intercepting the groove 29 and extending alongthe periphery 33 toward 7 the outer portion 23 thereof. If desired, thechannel 34 may be a longitudinal extension of the channel 32, thechannel 34 may be a longitudinal extension of the channel 32, thechannel 34 may be a longitudinal extension of the channel 32", and so onthroughoutthe periphery .33 of the nut 19. v

A receptacle 35 is provided on the face of the base member 17 a distancefrom the longitudinal axis 26 equal 55 the like.

60 registry with one of said receptacles.

. to the distance between said axis 26 and the intersection of thechannels 30, 30', 30" with the base portion 20 of the bolt-head 22 whenthe bolt 15 is inserted in the orifice 25. in a preferred form of myinvention, a plurality of 6 receptacles 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, and 35s,similarly related to the longitudinal axis 26'and to the base member 17are provided on said base member 17 at angles with respect to eachother, and having the axis 26 as an apex, asirnilar to the anglesbetween any two channels 30, 30',

l 3% with said axis 26 as an apex, or any multiple oi saidlast-mentioned angles.

An anchor member 36 is provided with an embracing portion 37 having asize and configuration substantially similar to that of the peripheralgroove 27, and preferably terminating in oppositely disposed projections38 and 35. in one preferred form, the embracing portion 37 extendsbetween the projections 38 and 39 a distance equal to the greaterperipheral distance along the groove 27 between adjacent channels 30 and3%. The projeo tion 38 is disposed at an angle with respect to theembracing portion 37 substantially equal to the angle between thechannel 3ti and the peripheral groove 27; and the projection 38 extendsfrom said embracing portion 37 to its terminus 49 a distance greaterthat the length of the channel 39. Moreover, theprojection 39 may bedisposed at an angle with respect to the embracing portion 37substantially equal to the angle between the channel 31 and the groove27; and in one preferred form, the projection 39 extends from theembracing portion 37 80 to its terminus 41 adistance greater than thelength of the channel 31. The anchormember 36 is preferably made ofspring material such as'steel wire or the like.

Asimilar anchor member having a substantially similar embracing portion43, a base projection 44 and an outer projection 45 may be provided forthe nut 19 in similar relation to the groove 21 and the channels 32, 32,32", and the channels 34, 34., 34". I

The plate 18 may also be providedwith receptacles 46 similar to thereceptacles 35, 35a, and said. receptacles 46 may be similarly disposedon the plate member 13 with.

respect to the longitudinal axis 26.

In operation, thebolt 15, stud, or similar rotatable member is insertedthrough the orifice 25 in the base member 17, and any other object to beheld by the bolt 15 or the like, said last-mentioned object. to be heldbeing illustrated by the plate 18. The nut 19 or other holding device isthen interlocked with the bolt 15 by any suitable means such as thethreading 24, and for purposes of adjustment, the.bolthead,16 may beturned 0 about the axis 26 to any extent desired. Thus, trial assembliesmaybe made, or temporary holdings alfected, until it is desired to lockthe assembly in place.

The base member 17 is then viewed in that portion thereof which isadjacent the channels 30, 30', 30" and It will be found that areceptacle 35, or any of its similar receptacles 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d,352, Will be susbtantially exposed by one of the channels 30, 30', 30 orthe like. If required, the bolt head'16 may be given a fractional turnto bring one of said channels into it will thus be found that theprovision of the receptacles 35, 35a, 35b,

35c, 35d, and 35a in angular relations to the axis 26, which areasimilar to the angular relations of the chain ,nels 30, 3Q, 30 withrespect to said axis 26, or any a multiple of said last-mentionedangular relations, pro- 7 vides a Vernier adjustmentwhereby a minimum ofturn .may be required in any case to bring one of said receptacles intoregistry with one'of said channels. Moreover, it is not essential inorder to obtain this desired result, to

76 with respect 'to said axis 26 which are asimilar to said anglesformed between the channels 30, 30, 30", and said axis 26, or anymultiple of said latter angles.

Having thus brought one of said receptacles into registry with one ofsaid channels, the projection 38 of the anchor member 36 is slipped intosaid channel and urged downwardly into the registered receptacle. Thus,for instance, as illustrated in Figure 6, thebolt head 16 is tightenedagainst the nut 19 and the base member 17, until the channel 39 is inregistry with the receptacle 35c; and as illustrated in Figure 7, theprojection 33 is slipped into the channel 39' and downwardly urgedtherethrough until the terminus 5%} of the projection 33 is interlockedwith the receptacle 350.

Using the receptacle 35c and the channel 39' as a bearing for theprojection 58 as a pivot, the anchor member 36 is swung toward thebolt-head 16 until the embracing portion 37 slips into the peripheralchannel 27. When this is done, the upward projection 39 will be found tobe in registry with the outer channel 31, and said projection 39 willspring into said outer channel 31 thereby causing the anchor member 36snugly to embrace and interlock with the bolt-head 16. In this position,it will be found that it is impossible to rotate the bolt-head 16 in anydirection, for the channels 30' and 31 interlock with their respectiveprojections 38 and 39 in a manner to prevent displacement of saidprojections in any direction other than radially outward; and rotationof the bolthead 16 does not permit such radially outward displacement.Moreover, the projection 33 being locked in the receptacle 350, isprevented from all displacement other than longitudinally outward, andsuch displacement is prevented so long as the embracing portion 36 isinterlocked with the peripheral groove 27. The bolt-head 16 is thussecurely locked against rotation.

When it is desired to remove the anchor member 36 from the bolt-head 16,it is simply necessary to pull the outer projection 39 radially awayfrom the channel 31, and to swing the embracing portion 37 away from theperipheral groove 27 by using the projection 39 as a handle, and theprojection 38 as a pivot; and when said embracing portion 37 iscompletely free from said groove 27, to lift the projection 38 out ofthe receptacle 35c, and withdraw said projection 38 from said channel30'. The bolt-head 16 is thus again free to be rotated about the axis26.

In a substantially similar manner, the nut 19 may be locked againstrotation, and as easily unlocked when it is desired again to rotate thenut 19.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiments to be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toobtain by Letters Patent, is:

l. A locking assembly for a rotatable member comprising a head-typedevice adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis and to be drawnalong said axis against a base member; said head-type device comprisinga base portion adapted to be drawn against said base member, a grooveformed about the periphery of said head-type device, and a plurality ofchannels formed in said device, each intercepting said groove anddisposed substanfially along a separate axis which is substantiallycoplanar with said longitudinal axis; each of said channels extendingfrom said groove to the base portion of said head-type device; and apro-formed anchor member comprising a portion having a configurationsubstantially similar to the configuration of said peripheral groove,and a projection extending substantially perpendicularly from one end ofsaid last-mentioned portion for reception in one of said channels, saidprojection being of a length greater than the length of said channels;said base memher comprising a plurality of receptacle portions, each ofwhich is spaced from said longitudinal axis a distance equal to thedistance between said longitudinal axis and the intersection of saidchannel with said base portion whereby said head-type devicesubstantially covers all receptacles which are not aligned with saidchannels, each of said receptacles being of a width and configurationsusbtantially similar to that of said projection; a channel interceptingsaid peripheral groove and extending from said groove in a directionsubstantially away from said base portion; and said anchor member havinga projection extending from a portion thereof and adapted to beremovably seated in said last mentioned channel, a portion of saidlast-mentioned projection extending axially beyond said head-type deviceand comprising a handle portion.

2. A locking assembly for a rotatable member comprising a head-type,device adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis and to be drawnalong said axis against a base member; said head-type device comprisinga base portion adapted to be drawn against said base member, a grooveformed about the periphery of said head-type device, and a plurality ofchannels formed in said device, each disposed substantially along aseparate axis which is substantially coplanar with said longitudinalaxs; each of said channels extending from said groove to the baseportion of said head-type device; and a pro-formed anchor membercomprising a portion having a configuration substantially similar to theconfiguration of said peripheral groove, and a projection extendingsubstantially perpendicularly from one end of said last-mentionedportion for reception in one of said channels, said projection being ofa length greater than the length of said channels; said base membercomprising a plurality of receptacle portions, each of which is spacedfrom said longitudinal axis a distance equal to the distance betweensaid longitudinal axis and the intersection of said channel with saidbase portion, whereby said head-type device substantially covers allreceptacles which are not aligned with said channels, each of saidreceptacles being of a width and configuration substantially similar tothat of said projection.

33. A locking assembly for a rotatable member comprising a head-typedevice adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis and to be drawnalong said axis against a base member; said head-type device comprisinga base portion adapted to be drawn against said base member, a grooveformed about the periphery of said head-type device, and a channelformed in said device and disposed substantially along a separate axiswhich is substantially coplanar with said longitudinal axis; saidchannel extending from said groove to the base portion of said head-typedevice; and a pre-formed anchor member comprising a portion having aconfiguration substantially similar to the configuration of saidperipheral groove, and a projection extending substantiallyperpendicularly from one end of said last-mentioned portion forreception in said channel, said projection being of a length greaterthan the length of said channel; said base member comprising a pluralityof receptacle portions, each of which is spaced from said longitudinalaxis a distance equal to the distance between said longitudinal axis andthe intersection of said channel with said base portion, whereby saidhead-type device substantially covers all receptacles which are notaligned with said channel, each of said receptacles being of a width andconfiguration substantially similar to that of said projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS516,563 Butler Mar. 13, 1894 756,709 Rieman Apr. 5, 1904 FOREIGN PATENTS468,629 Great Britain July 5, 1937

